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Old 22 November 2010, 03:39 PM   #1
LostInTime
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Why not a titanium Rolex?

Rolex likes to espouse the virtues of their 904l steel, and this got me thinking. Why is there not a titanium Rolex? Titanium would be more durable while offering some other benefits. I know Panerai makes some models, and compared to their steel siblings, they are much lighter; I also happen to like the slightly darker look that titanium offers. It seems that watches like the Submariner or Explorer models would be a perfect fit for this metal.
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Old 22 November 2010, 03:42 PM   #2
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DSSD has a titanium caseback.
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Old 22 November 2010, 03:52 PM   #3
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I agree, the Explorer's and the Sub's would be prefect in titanium. I have an Omega Seamaster in titanium and it is sooo light.
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Old 22 November 2010, 04:04 PM   #4
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hope rolex gon develope more titanium models...i lov da titanium !
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Old 22 November 2010, 05:03 PM   #5
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Maybe a titanium DSSD then I'm IN!!
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Old 22 November 2010, 05:18 PM   #6
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Yes a Titanium DSSD would be sweet!
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Old 22 November 2010, 05:19 PM   #7
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Not for me, but sure, maybe it is time Rolex used titanium more extensively.
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Old 22 November 2010, 05:27 PM   #8
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I'm no expert but know of issues with Ti cases fusing together.

This maybe one area of concern, secondly I did find my Ti carrera marked very easily !

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Old 22 November 2010, 05:35 PM   #9
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Not a fan of Ti. Always feels like aluminium to me.
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Old 22 November 2010, 10:15 PM   #10
The GMT Master
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It doesn't make sense for Rolex to use Titanium - for starters, Rolex's grade of steel is a major selling point, and pretty much unique (bar one or two examples) in the watch world. It's highly polishable, highly durable, and feels nice too - substantial, without feeling heavy. I always find titanium just too light, makes the watch feel cheap - it's not as nice to look at either, it's a bit duller than steel. You can maybe understand watch manufacturers using titanium when their steel models are so heavy, but the whole Rolex range, even the Deepsea, is pretty manageable.
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Old 22 November 2010, 10:16 PM   #11
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Not a fan of Ti. Always feels like aluminium to me.
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Old 22 November 2010, 10:18 PM   #12
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I personally like I little bit of weight to my watch. From what I understand Titanium is very light. Don't realy prefer something that feels like tin or aluminium.
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Old 22 November 2010, 11:02 PM   #13
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Wearing a 220g Omega daily, the sub steel feels like a very, very light piece of metal. If you made it out of Ti, it would weigh well under 100g, that's just too little and it'd feel like a bangle rather than a watch.

Scratches on Ti look ugly too while satin steel hides them.
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Old 22 November 2010, 11:28 PM   #14
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I think Rolex should do a Ti model/variant.
I for one would be all over it like a bad rash!
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Old 22 November 2010, 11:42 PM   #15
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I think Rolex should do a Ti model/variant.
I for one would be all over it like a bad rash!
Ti is hypo-allergenic, so that might be hard
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Old 23 November 2010, 03:34 AM   #16
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Titanium watches look horrible. It's just not an attractive metal.
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Old 23 November 2010, 03:45 AM   #17
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Titanium watches look horrible. It's just not an attractive metal.
Can't completely agree with you Ed. The PAM Ti models look pretty cool. But, I'm not advocating that Rolex use it more but simply that watches can look good with it.
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Old 23 November 2010, 03:51 AM   #18
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I'm no expert but know of issues with Ti cases fusing together.This maybe one area of concern, secondly I did find my Ti carrera marked very easily !

Sam
Ti threads require anti-seizing compound to prevent this.
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Old 23 November 2010, 04:07 AM   #19
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Titanium is strong but brittle. It's a pretty bad material to make watches out of if you want it to last.
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Old 23 November 2010, 04:09 AM   #20
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not to mention its is less dense metal than steel ...one major attribute for me, for which I have spent thousands on Rolexes is WEIGHT!!! ... I don't want to spend money on a light watch and a sub or deepsea would not be what they are if they do not have weight to them....when I spends thousands, I wanna feel the weight big time .......
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Old 23 November 2010, 04:21 AM   #21
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Titanium watches look horrible. It's just not an attractive metal.
I couldn't agree more!
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Old 23 November 2010, 04:27 AM   #22
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IMO,

Ti is soft, brittle and actually not too good for long term watch life. Carbon fibre, ceramics, polymers and mixed use metals may be the next innovation in watch casings for premium Swiss makers. Magnesium has been talked about due to its casting and other benefits but is still far away. As for Ti, it's been done and it makes Rolex look late to the game unless its solely for weight reduction reasons (DSSD). Can't be polished either. PVD your Rolex if a matte look is desired... but don't scratch it up.
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Old 23 November 2010, 04:52 AM   #23
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Not a fan of Ti on watches. Leave titanium for weight reducing parts i.e. mc exhausts, etc.
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Old 23 November 2010, 06:12 AM   #24
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Ti is hypo-allergenic, so that might be hard
Lol

In that's case, I'd be all over it like a fat kid on cake! Lol
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Old 23 November 2010, 06:52 AM   #25
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I've owned two Titanium watches over the years, I flipped them soon after purchase. They scratched easily and felt cheap/light. I prefer SS.
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Old 23 November 2010, 07:13 AM   #26
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I like my watch to feel like it's got some weight behind it - 904L seems to do the job quite nicely for me!

Ti would be cool as well though!
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Old 23 November 2010, 08:28 AM   #27
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IMO,

Ti is soft, brittle and actually not too good for long term watch life. Carbon fibre, ceramics, polymers and mixed use metals may be the next innovation in watch casings for premium Swiss makers. Magnesium has been talked about due to its casting and other benefits but is still far away. As for Ti, it's been done and it makes Rolex look late to the game unless its solely for weight reduction reasons (DSSD). Can't be polished either. PVD your Rolex if a matte look is desired... but don't scratch it up.
Except it's a fire hazard.
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Old 23 November 2010, 11:27 AM   #28
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I agree what others have said--I prefer heft to my watch. Want to feel it on my wrist. Ti isn't that. I'll take platinum, gold, or SS over Ti all day long, but to each his own!

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Old 23 November 2010, 11:44 AM   #29
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Except it's a fire hazard.
True but, by the time it combusts (if), you've got other things to worry about than the time of day. You'd be charcoal. It's currently being used in automotive engine applications with a pct of aluminum blended in to avoid combustion. I'm not saying its perfect but until engineers figure out something better, stainless steel seems tried and true.
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Old 23 November 2010, 12:33 PM   #30
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Not a fan of Ti on watches. Leave titanium for weight reducing parts i.e. mc exhausts, etc.
What about a Rolex in CF.
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